Exam Eligibility & Application

A master's in nursing is the minimum degree requirement for national nursing certification as an advanced practice nurse practitioner. Candidates who do not hold at least a Master's degree in nursing will not be eligible for this exam. The Doctorate of Nursing Practice is not required for exam eligibility.

My educational preparation is as a family nurse practitioner. May I take the CPNP exam?

No, not unless you can document additional formal academic PNP education such as a post-master's PNP certificate. If you are interested, please contact the program director of a recognized PNP program to discuss a post-master's certificate.

If my program is not on the list of PNCB's recognized PNP programs, how can it be included?

No. All transcripts must be sent directly to PNCB from the Registrar's office of the educational institution or by a transcript service such as National Student Clearinghouse or Parchment. Electronic transcripts are now accepted. Please see the transcripts webpage for details.

After your application is reviewed andonce you receive notification of eligibility from PNCB, you can make your appointment to sit for the exam. The "letter of eligibility" will indicate your 90-day testing period which is assigned as each candidate's eligibility record is established with Prometric. Specific instructions will be provided detailing the process of scheduling a testing time within the 90-day eligibility period.

How long does it take to determine eligibility in order to sit for the exam?

Once the PNCB receives all documentation (online application, fees, transcript(s) and documentation of PNP education form [if required]) a letter of eligibility will be emailed to you generally within 3 weeks. Determination of eligibility will be completed in a timely manner following receipt of all required materials. A verification of eligibility to sit will be sent, if requested.

My state currently does not require the Primary Care CPNP Exam. Why should I get this certification?

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the National Task Force Criteria and the APRN National Consensus Model include recommendations that all states require nurse practitioners to have congruence between education, national certification and clinical practice. While a few states may not currently require national certification for licensure, your employer may require certification or you may move to another state that requires it.

Canadian-Educated Applicants

Do I need to send a transcript?

Not if you are using the exam only to partially meet Canadian advanced practice licensure requirements. See this guide for full details.

How does my program confirm I completed my education?

Your PNP program will provide a document directly to PNCB that confirms your completed PNP program. You do not need to do anything.

What steps do I follow to make sure the correct regulatory body receives my results?

Please contact the regulatory body that should receive your exam results. The regulatory body will provide PNCB with two required documents:

• Approval to Test
• Permission to Release Scores, which is available from your province.

PNCB will send your exam scores directly to this regulatory body.

Do I qualify to take the Acute Care CPNP certification exam?

At this time, Canadian-educated PNP graduates are only eligible to take the Primary Care CPNP certification exam.

If I pass the exam, may I maintain CPNP-PC certification by participating in the recertification program?

Yes, but you will need to provide PNCB with a final official transcript before recertifying. The transcript must be sent directly from your PNP program to PNCB. Learn more about recertification requirements.

Primary Care vs. Acute Care Roles

I graduated from an acute care program. May I take the primary care exam?

No. Only graduates of a primary care or dual (acute care/primary care) program may sit for the primary care exam. The educational curriculum, precepted clinical experiences and population-focused nurse practitioner competencies are different for these two roles. The 2008 APRN Consensus Model requires that there be congruence between the role (nurse practitioner) and population (primary care) focus of the formal educational program and the certification exam. For more information, please see NONPF's Statement on Acute Care and Primary Care Certified Nurse Practitioner Practice (2012).

Preparing & Studying

How do I study for the exam? Can you recommend a particular review course or book?

PNCB cannot provide, endorse, or encourage a specific text or review course, but we can suggest questions to consider when making your choices. Visit our Resources Page for these questions to consider. Do take time to see the Resources Page and become familiar with the CPNP-PC content outline.

Also on the Resources Page, find a CPNP-PC Reference List of texts for possible study. If you’d like to become familiar with the structure and presentation of the exam, our PNCB offers online Primary Care Practice Tests may help.

Taking the Exam

Do I need computer knowledge to take the certification exam?

No. Computer knowledge is not required to take a computer-based exam at Prometric. Before the exam begins, a customized introductory lesson is provided that explains the procedure used to select an answer and move from question to question. This introductory lesson does not reduce your assigned testing time.

How long is the exam?

The exam includes 175 multiple-choice questions. Of these, 150 questions are scored questions and 25 are unscored pretest questions. You will not know which questions are scored or unscored when you take the exam. You may take up to 3 hours to complete the exam.

When will I receive my exam results?

Preliminary exam results are received immediately after taking the exam. No results are given by phone or email. Official PNCB notification confirming your exam results are mailed approximately 2-3 weeks after the testing date.

Will I be able to take the exam at the time and place I want or need?

In most cases, yes. However, in order to obtain a desired time and place within your testing period, an appointment must be made as soon as you receive notification from Prometric that you are eligible to schedule an exam date and time. Examinations are delivered by computer at over 300 Prometric Test Centers (PTC) geographically located throughout the United States, including most territories, and Canada. However, waiting to make your appointment may jeopardize your scheduling needs.

I have a disability-related need and may require special accommodations to take the exam. What do I do?

In order to facilitate disability-related needs, we work with Prometric to arrange specific accommodations. Indicate your need for special accommodations when you apply for the exam and print our Special Exam Accommodations Form, then complete and mail it to the PNCB office.

Can I see which questions I did not answer correctly?

No, because certification exams are secure, and important efforts are made to ensure that security, some of which you noticed at the testing center. This security is a requirement for exam accreditation. While we understand that people want to learn from their mistakes, releasing questions (with or without answers) exposes exam questions that are still in use on exams. Once those questions are shared outside of the secure exam environment, the security and integrity of the exam is compromised. However, if you are unsuccessful on the exam, your report will offer information about strengths and weaknesses in topic areas that may be helpful to considering future study needs.

Exam Policies & Procedures

If I take the exam and am unsuccessful, may I take the exam again? If so, how long must I wait in order to re-exam?

Please note: For testing period extensions, at no time will your testing period be more than 90 days. Once you apply for the extension, your 90-day testing window will begin soon after your request for an extension is approved. Some individuals incorrectly interpret this to mean that applying for an extension grants them 180 days to take the exam. To extend your testing period, click here.

Please note: For testing period extensions, at no time will your testing period be more than 90 days. Once you apply for the extension, your 90-day testing window will begin soon after your request for an extension is approved. Some individuals incorrectly interpret this to mean that applying for an extension grants them 180 days to take the exam. To extend your testing period, click here.

What if I do not show up to take the exam at my assigned date and time?

Please note: For testing period extensions, at no time will your testing period be more than 90 days. Once you apply for the extension, your 90-day testing window will begin soon after your request for an extension is approved. Some individuals incorrectly interpret this to mean that applying for an extension grants them 180 days to take the exam. To extend your testing period, click here.

Once my exam is scheduled with Prometric, may I reschedule within my 90-day testing period?

Please note: For testing period extensions, at no time will your testing period be more than 90 days. Once you apply for the extension, your 90-day testing window will begin soon after your request for an extension is approved. Some individuals incorrectly interpret this to mean that applying for an extension grants them 180 days to take the exam. To extend your testing period, click here.

Please note: For testing period extensions, at no time will your testing period be more than 90 days. Once you apply for the extension, your 90-day testing window will begin soon after your request for an extension is approved. Some individuals incorrectly interpret this to mean that applying for an extension grants them 180 days to take the exam. To extend your testing period, click here.

Please note: For testing period extensions, at no time will your testing period be more than 90 days. Once you apply for the extension, your 90-day testing window will begin soon after your request for an extension is approved. Some individuals incorrectly interpret this to mean that applying for an extension grants them 180 days to take the exam. To extend your testing period, click here.

Verification of Certification

What must I do to have a verification of my certification sent to my employer or state board of nursing?

Verification of certification is available 24/7 to all state boards of nursing. A Board can verify or re-verify information on demand and as many times as needed.

Maintaining Certification through Recertification

If I successfully complete the exam, what are the requirements to maintain national certification?

Visit Recertification for full details on requirements, options, and deadlines for our annual Recert program.

Name Changes

What if my name has changed since I graduated?

Documentation of name change is needed if the name on the exam application and/or exam eligibility notification is different than the first and last names on your two forms of acceptable identification. Log in to Applications/Forms to complete our Name Change Application and upload required supporting documents. The form must received by our office at least 5 business days before your exam appointment.